Containers or jars



Feb. 27, 1962 D. SPQQNER 3,022,916

CONTAINERS OR JARS Filed Sept. 8, 1960 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR DANIEL SPOONER BY m w 3;

ATTORNEYS.

3,022,916 CONTAINERS R JARS Daniel Spooner, 548 E. Bay Drive, Long Beach, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 54,741 2 Claims. (Cl. 215-31) This invention relates generally to containers, and is especially concerned with containers or jars adapted to contain semiliquids and like materials.

As is well known, various .semiliquid and semi-solid foodstuffs, such as jellies and pastes are conventionally packaged in widemouthed ja-rs or containers to" facilitate removal of .the contents by a kitchen implement or tool, such as a spoon or other. However, considerable cleaning difiiculties and waste are occasioned by a portion of the contents adhering to the spoon, which portion i s .usually wasted in cleaning of the spoon.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a unique container for semiliquids and the like having novel structure enabling a spoon to be quickly, easily and-thoroughly wiped to remove adhering substances and simultaneously deposit the same in the container, thereby effecting substantial economy in the elimination of wast,l and enhancing neatness of the material-dispensing procedure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of the type described which is extremely simple, durable and reliable in use, being capable of highly effective usage even by relatively small children.

The instant invention further contemplates the elimination or substantial reduction in container breakage, such as often results from the forcible tapping of a spoon or the like against the container in an attempt to dislodge adhering substances, and return the same to the container.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved container construction which is more sanitary in use, enabling substances adhering to a spoon or the like to be quickly and easily deposited directly into the container without the intervention of unsanitary means, such as the users fingers.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a container construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is foolproof in operation throughout the life of the container, and may be achieved at little or no cost in addition to that of a conventional container.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and re =ferring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing the upper region or open mouth of a jar constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view showing the jar mouth of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a jar or upwardly opening container is there generally designated iii, including an upstanding, peripherally extending side wall 11. On the upper end of the peripheral side wall 11 there may be provided an annular, circumferential wall or neck 12 terminating in a generally circular upper edge 13. External screw threads 14 maybe provided about the circumferential wall 12, and an expresent invention. v not necessarily formed integrallyvrith the circumferen. tial wall 12 in manufacturing the container 1'0. Thus, the protuberance 17 involves no additional manufacturing 3,Q22,9l6 Patented 'Feb. 27, 1962 ternal annular head or collar 15 may be provided at the juncture of the side wall 11 and circumferential wall 12.

As thus-far described, the container or jar 10 may be of the conventional Widemouthed type, as is generally integrally fabricated of glass or other suitable material. Such containers are commonly employed to package jellies, pastes, strained foods, chopped foods and other semiliquids'and-semi-solids, both edible and otherwise. A conventional screw-type cap (not shown) may be removably engagedover the open upper end of circumferential wall 12. Of course, other suitable containers and closures may be employed without departing from the invention. The. circumferential wall 12 bounds'and defines there- Iwithin the container mouth 16. Located within the mouth 16 is aprotuberance, generally designated 17, of the The protuberance is preferably, but

procedures; other 't-han' provision fol-"the protuberance 'in the forming'molds.

The protuberance 17 extends generally radially inwarrd from the internal surf-ace of circumferential wall 12 having an upper surface 18 disposed generally horizontally and substantially flush with the upper end edge or surface 13 of the circumferential wall. The protuberance 17 and its upper surface 18 are bounded on the radially inner side by an edge 19 best seen in FIGURE 2. The edge 19 is configured to define an arcuate convex medial region, bulging generally radially inward into the mouth 16. Extending from the opposite sides of the medial region of edge 19 are arcuatedly concave side regions 20, each extending between and merging smoothly with the medial edge region and the adjacent internal region of circumferential wall 12. Thus, the edge 19 is of an undulant or wavy configuration having a medial convex region and a pair of concave regions on opposite sides of the convex region.

The protuberance 17 overhangs into the mouth 16 and has its undersurface 21 sloping from the edge 19 downward and radially outward for smooth mergence with the internal surface of wall 12. The nether surface or underwall 21 is best seen in FIGURE 3 as sloping diagonally downward and outward from its meeting with the upper surface 18 and the edge 19 toward and into smooth mergence with the entire surface of circumferential wall 12. This sloping downward and outward of surface 21 extends entirely along the edge 19 and in conformance therewith, so that the medial region of undersurface 21 is convex, while the side regions of the undersurface are concave, as at 22.

Utilization of the instant construction is shown in FIG- URE 1, conventional kitchen implements or spoons being shown in phantom at 2'3 and 2.4. The spoon 23 is shown with the concave side of its bowl engaging the convex medial portion of edge 19, whence upon movement in the direction of arrow 25, material adhering to the interior of the spoon bowl will be wiped free therefrom and dropped into the jar 10. The spoon shown in phantom at 24 is illustrated with the convex or exterior of its bowl engaging with one of the concave edge regions 20, whereupon upward movement of the spoon 24, in the direction of arrow 26 effects removal by wiping of the material adhering to the outer side of the bowl and its consequent dropping into the jar 10.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a unique construction for openmouthed jars or containers which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in 's'onte detail by way of illustration and-examplefor purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

1. In a container for semi liquids and the like t having an outlet opening defining a mouth and bounded by a circumferential wall, the improvement -comprising a shaped protuberance extending-Efrem a portion of said circuniferential -wall toward. the. inside .o-fsaid mouthe said protuberance having :an inner edge thatdefines the-innermost extent of said protuberance, .saidlinner edgeLhaving 'an arcuate convex medial region and adjacent arcuate concave-sideregions,saLidregionssmoothly merging with each other and withsaid circumferential wall, saidprotuberance having a planar upper surface flush with the upper edge ofsaid circumferential wall, saidvprotuberance inner edge lying insaid upper. sui-faoqsaid protuberance having-an:arcuatesurfacehelo/w said upper snrface, said last mentioned -areuate surface extending obliquely in' a generally downward direction i'from said inner edge towards said circumferential wall and mergingusmoo'thly therewith, whereby said protuberance is adaptedfor wiping engagement with the convex and-concavesurfaces of a spoon.

-2. In :a 1 container for semieliquids :and t the like having anou'tlet' opening defining a mouth and bounded by a circumferential wall, the improvement comprising a surface, .said last mentioned arcuate surface extending obliquely in a generally tdownward direction from said inner edge towards said circumferential waliand merging tsrnoothly therewith, whereby said protuberancetis adapted .forswipingrengagement with the convex and concave surfacesof a. spoon.

References Cited infthe file otthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 31 73950 Lilly May 12,1885 1,503,694 McPherson "Aug. .5, 1-924 2,039345 Ravenscroft May 5, 1936 7,126,465 :Hilgenberg-u 4Aug.-9, 1938 "2566x029 Horrocks Jan. 5, 21954 FOREIGN 'PATENTS fireatrBritain July 26, 1927 

